Book One: Forbidden (Warning:Spoiler Alert!!!)

In Forbidden: Book One of the Sanctorian Series, we discovered a world that is constantly at war.  Sanctoria is home to three races of people each with their own unique abilities.

The Produrai possess the ability to manipulate fauna using the powers that lie dormant within them until they come of age.  Among them we have met Lyla, one of the heirs to the Produrai throne.  Her group of friends includes Angel, Joel, and Adam.  Angel’s brother, Thomas, Commands the Produrai legions in the war against their enemy, the Domura.  The Queen of the Produrai moved their people to Terra more than a decade ago to escape the never-ending war on Sanctoria.  The Produrai live in mainly in seclusion in a community on the outskirts of Vancouver.

The Domura can read people’s thoughts and use compulsion making them a formidable foe.  Thanark, the outcast prince and heir to the Domuran throne, has taken possession of the Produrai palace on Sanctoria.  He and three of his most trusted patrols-Argo, Beckon and Nikko- have been searching for the location of the Produrai since their unexpected disappearance from Sanctoria.  Prince Thanark was outcast from his home after witnessing the murder of his mother, the Queen of the Domura.  For him to claim his mantle, he must avenge his mother and take the life of the Produrai that murdered her.  To speed up his search, Thanark made a pact with the Chiefs of Mantekai.

The Mantekai can take the shape of any living creature.  They are a nomadic people with tight family bonds.  Among the clan of Mantekai are the Chief and his nine sons- Ronan, Cynder, Theron, Kalren and Hunter (the twins), Lucas, Porter, Tristan and Duncan.  The Chief moved his clan of Mantekai to Terra in hopes of a fresh start for his people.

Our story began when Lyla met Cynder.  Cynder had searched for Lyla since the Produrai had left Sanctoria.  He would shift into his owl form and disappear from his clan for days at a time while he traveled all of Terra in search for his childhood friend.  Lyla and Cynder were bonded by blood and ancient magic under the twin moons of Sanctoria when they were children.

Cynder planned on brining Lyla back with him to his clan but she was kidnapped by his brother, Ronan, before that could happen.  Ronan lied to Lyla and made her believe that Cynder wanted to take her life by surrendering her to the Prince of the Domura.  She and Ronan hid themselves in a youth hostel in Los Angeles, disappearing into the city’s large population.  It was not long before they were discovered.  Lyla, in an attempt to escape, fell into a portal that took both her and Cynder back to Sanctoria.

After a time, Lyla realized that she still cared for Cynder.  She learned to trust him as they journeyed to the Produrai palace, unbeknownst to them that it was currently occupied by the Domura.  Lyla and Cynder met three Domuran patrols along their journey and were separated.  She was rescued from the chasing patrols by a tradesman named Thane (Prince Thanark).

Thane helped her to rescue Cynder from the hands of the Domura.  Lyla and Cynder took Thane back to Terra with them to spare him from Domuran punishment.  Upon their arrival on Terra, they came across a large mass of Mantekai and Produrai dressed in battle garb.  Thomas, the Commander, ushered Lyla away from Cynder and took her back to see the Queen in the Produrai community.

At the community, Lyla discovered that Ronan had been captured when she had escaped from Terra.  To spare Ronan’s life, Lyla was forced by the Queen into a marriage with Thomas.  Cynder and Thane found out about Lyla’s wedding and planned rescue both her and Ronan.  Before the wedding ceremony began, the Queen announced Lyla as the next Queen of their people.

The Chief of the Mantekai interrupted the ceremony claiming that Lyla could not marry Thomas due to the bond she and Cynder had made as children.  Cynder, in owl form, flew to the center aisle and challenged the Commander for Lyla.  Lyla was forced to watch as Cynder and Thomas exchanged blows.

During the ceremony, Ronan was dragged out of the community by two of the Produrai knights.  They were intercepted and quickly defeated by Thane.  Thane entrusted the safe return of Ronan to two of his younger Mantekai brothers.  He returned to the community to help Cynder.

The wedding ceremony ended in blood as Thomas not only took Cynder’s life but also the life of his sister, Angel.  The Produrai disperse from the wedding leaving only the group of Mantekai and Cynder’s lifeless body behind.